Beyond the Basics: 15 Surprising Household Items You Can Actually Recycle

Introduction

Every day, the average American generates a staggering 4.9 pounds of waste. Here's the kicker: up to 75% of that waste is actually recyclable, yet only 32% makes it to the proper recycling facilities. The rest? Straight to landfills where it can take decades—or even centuries—to break down.

We've all stood over our bins, holding an item, and wondered: "Is this recyclable?" That moment of doubt often sends potentially valuable materials to landfills. It's not your fault—recycling guidelines can be confusing, inconsistent, and constantly changing.

That's why I've compiled this comprehensive guide to 15 commonly overlooked household items you can recycle today. For each item, you'll get specific instructions on how to prepare it, where to take it, and what happens after you recycle it. The best part? By recycling these often-overlooked items, you could cut your household waste by up to 30% with minimal extra effort.

Quick Reference Guide

Item	Material Type	Preparation Needed	Where to Recycle	Environmental Impact
Toothpaste tubes	Mixed plastic/metal	Cut, rinse	TerraCycle or Colgate program	Reduces plastic pollution
Pump bottles	Mixed plastics	Disassemble parts	Curbside (check local rules)	Conserves petroleum resources
Contact lenses	#5 plastic	Collect in container	Bausch+Lomb program	Prevents microplastic pollution
Medication bottles	#1 or #2 plastic	Remove labels	Pharmacy take-back	Keeps pharmaceuticals out of water
Cooking oil	Organic waste	Cool, store in container	Local collection sites	Creates biodiesel fuel
Wine corks	Natural cork	Clean, dry	ReCORK collection bins	Preserves cork oak forests
Coffee pods	Aluminum/plastic	Empty grounds	Brand recycling programs	Reduces mining impact
Aluminum foil	Aluminum	Clean, ball (2" minimum)	Curbside metal recycling	95% energy savings vs. new
Type 5/7 plastics	Polypropylene/mixed	Rinse, check numbers	Specialized programs	Reduces petroleum dependency
Bubble mailers	Paper/plastic	Separate components	Paper to curbside, plastic to store drop-off	Prevents mixed waste contamination
Writing instruments	Mixed plastics	Collect, no caps	TerraCycle programs	Reduces plastic waste
Electronics/cords	Mixed metals/plastics	Remove batteries	Electronics retailers	Recovers precious metals
Textiles	Natural/synthetic fibers	Clean, bag separately	Textile recycling bins	Reduces textile waste in landfills
Eyeglasses	Metal/plastic	Clean, include case	Lions Club collection	Provides vision care worldwide
Batteries	Chemical/metal	Tape terminals	Hardware stores	Prevents toxic leaching

Why Proper Recycling Matters More Than Ever

When we toss recyclable items into the trash, we're not just wasting materials—we're missing an opportunity to conserve resources and reduce pollution. However, good intentions can sometimes backfire through "wishcycling"—putting items in recycling bins hoping they'll be recycled when they actually can't be processed.

Wishcycling contaminates recycling streams, forcing entire loads of otherwise recyclable materials to be diverted to landfills. In fact, contamination rates in U.S. recycling programs have risen to 25% in recent years, meaning one in four items placed in recycling bins actually harms the recycling process.

By focusing on just five of the overlooked items from this list each month, your household could prevent more than 60 items from entering landfills yearly. Additionally, these 15 items contain valuable recoverable materials—from aluminum (which is infinitely recyclable) to rare earth metals in electronics that are increasingly difficult to mine.

Consider what happens when these items end up in landfills: plastic items like toothpaste tubes can take 500+ years to decompose, leaching chemicals into soil and groundwater. Electronics release toxic heavy metals as they break down. In contrast, when properly recycled, these materials re-enter the manufacturing stream, reducing the need for virgin materials and cutting energy use significantly. For instance, recycling aluminum saves 95% of the energy required to produce new aluminum from raw materials.

4 Bathroom Items You Didn't Know You Could Recycle

1. Empty Toothpaste Tubes

Most toothpaste tubes are made from a combination of plastic and aluminum that was previously difficult to recycle. However, several options now exist:

Brand Programs: Colgate has partnered with TerraCycle to create a free recycling program that accepts any brand of toothpaste tubes. Simply sign up on their website to receive a free shipping label.

30-Second Prep Technique:

Cut open the tube lengthwise with scissors
Rinse out remaining toothpaste under running water
Let dry completely (this prevents contamination)
Collect tubes in a paper bag until you have enough to ship

Tom's of Maine and Hello also offer similar recycling programs, and some brands like Davids come in fully recyclable metal tubes.

2. Pump-Top Bottles

Those plastic pump dispensers from shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and soap bottles can actually be recycled—but only if you disassemble them first.

Simple Disassembly Method:

Unscrew the pump mechanism from the bottle
Separate the metal spring from the plastic components (the spring goes with metal recycling)
Rinse the bottle thoroughly
Place the plastic components in your plastic recycling
The bottle itself can go in your regular plastic recycling

This works for most shampoo, lotion, and soap dispensers. Some municipalities now accept assembled pumps, so check your local guidelines.

3. Contact Lens Materials

Both the contact lenses themselves and their packaging can be recycled through specialized programs.

For Blister Packs and Lenses:

Bausch + Lomb's ONE by ONE program accepts used contact lenses, blister packs, and the foil tops from any brand
Collect materials in a small cardboard box
Drop off at participating optometrist offices (over 5,000 locations nationwide)
Can't find a location? Mail them directly using their free shipping label program

Since launching, this program has recycled over 48 million contact lenses and packages, preventing them from ending up in water systems where they contribute to microplastic pollution.

4. Medication Bottles

Prescription medication bottles require special handling for both safety and recycling:

Safety Considerations:

Remove all personal information from labels (either peel off or use a marker to black out)
Ensure all medication is removed (do NOT flush medications down the toilet)

Recycling Options:

Many pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens offer medication bottle take-back programs
Some municipalities accept empty prescription bottles in regular recycling (check local guidelines)
If your pharmacy doesn't accept them, ensure bottles are empty, remove labels, and place in plastics recycling if your municipality accepts #1 or #2 plastics

For the medications themselves, look for DEA-approved medication take-back events in your community, which typically occur twice yearly.

5 Kitchen Items You're Probably Throwing Away

1. Used Cooking Oil

Instead of pouring used cooking oil down the drain (which can cause serious plumbing issues), recycle it into biodiesel fuel.

Transformation Process:
Used cooking oil undergoes a process called transesterification, where the oil is filtered and then chemically converted into biodiesel—a renewable fuel that produces 78% less CO2 than conventional diesel.

Collection Method:

Allow oil to cool completely
Pour into a clean, sealable container (original bottle works well)
Store until you have at least 16 oz to recycle
Take to a collection point (many cities have designated drop-off locations)

Collection Locations:

Earth911.com can help locate cooking oil recycling centers near you
Some municipal recycling centers accept cooking oil
Many Whole Foods stores have cooking oil recycling bins
Restaurant supply stores sometimes offer collection services

During holidays, many cities offer special cooking oil collection events, knowing that deep-fried turkey and other festive cooking generates substantial oil waste.

2. Wine Corks

Natural wine corks are biodegradable, but recycling them gives them new life and helps preserve cork oak forests.

Natural vs. Synthetic Corks:

Natural corks: Made from bark of cork oak trees; light, slightly textured, and compress easily
Synthetic corks: Made from plastic; often smoother, more uniform in appearance, and don't compress as well

Recycling Options:

ReCORK has collected over 110 million corks through their 3,000+ collection locations
Whole Foods Market has cork collection bins at many locations
Some wine shops and liquor stores accept corks for recycling

Natural corks get ground down and transformed into new products like yoga blocks, shoe soles, and building insulation. Synthetic corks can sometimes be recycled with #7 plastics but check local guidelines.

3. Coffee Pods and Capsules

Single-serve coffee pods create significant waste, but several recycling options exist:

Brand-Specific Programs:

Nespresso offers recycling bags that you can fill with used aluminum capsules and drop off at collection points or UPS stores
Keurig's K-Cups made after 2020 are recyclable if you peel off the foil top, empty and rinse the pod, and recycle the plastic cup
Nespresso's Vertuo pods can be recycled through their mail-in program

Mail-In Options:

TerraCycle partners with several brands to offer free shipping labels for pod recycling
Nespresso provides prepaid recycling bags with online orders
Some subscription services include return envelopes for used pods

The coffee grounds inside the pods can be composted, while the aluminum from Nespresso pods is infinitely recyclable, and the plastic from K-Cups can be turned into outdoor furniture and other durable goods.

4. Food-Stained Aluminum Foil

Contrary to popular belief, aluminum foil with food residue can be recycled—with proper preparation.

2-Minute Cleaning Technique:

Wipe off excess food with a paper towel (compost the paper towel if possible)
Rinse under warm water
Use a soft sponge with mild dish soap to remove stubborn residue
Rinse again and let dry
Ball up clean foil pieces together until you have a ball at least 2 inches in diameter (smaller pieces can get lost in recycling machinery)

This technique works for aluminum foil, pie plates, and food trays. The aluminum is melted down and can be recycled infinitely without losing quality, saving 95% of the energy required to produce new aluminum.

5. Type 5 and 7 Plastics

Many recycling programs only accept plastics #1 and #2, but types #5 and #7 can also be recycled through specialized programs.

How to Identify These Plastics:

Look for the recycling symbol with a number inside on the bottom of containers
Type #5 (polypropylene): Often used for yogurt containers, medicine bottles, and some food containers
Type #7 (miscellaneous plastics): Includes mixed plastic items and bioplastics

Specialized Programs:

Preserve's Gimme 5 program accepts clean #5 plastics at drop-off bins in select Whole Foods stores
TerraCycle offers Zero Waste Boxes for hard-to-recycle plastics
Some municipalities have expanded their acceptance of #5 plastics, so check local guidelines

When recycled, #5 plastics can become new food containers, ice scrapers, and durable goods like rakes. Recycling these plastics keeps them out of oceans and reduces petroleum consumption needed for new plastic production.

3 Office & Mail Items With Surprising Recycling Potential

1. Bubble Mailers and Packaging

These hybrid materials require separation before recycling.

Component Separation Technique:

For paper-padded mailers: Separate the paper outer layer from the bubble wrap inner layer (the paper is recyclable with paper; the bubble wrap with plastic film)
For all-plastic bubble mailers: Check for the How2Recycle label, which often designates these as store drop-off items
For poly mailers (thin plastic shipping bags): These can be recycled with plastic bags at store drop-off locations

Step-by-Step Process:

Remove all tape, labels, and stickers where possible
Separate paper from plastic components
Recycle paper components with paper recycling
Take plastic films and bubble wrap to store drop-off locations (available at most grocery stores and retailers like Target and Walmart)

By separating these components, you prevent contamination in the recycling stream and ensure each material can be properly processed.

2. Markers and Writing Instruments

Through TerraCycle and brand-specific programs, dried-out markers, pens, and other writing tools can avoid the landfill.

Available Programs:

Crayola ColorCycle accepts all brands of markers, including dry erase and highlighters
BIC's writing instrument recycling program takes pens, markers, mechanical pencils, and correction tools
Sharpie partners with TerraCycle for marker recycling
The PenGuy recycling program accepts all brands of writing instruments

How to Participate:

Collect used writing instruments (remove caps if possible)
Find a local collection point or request a shipping label
For schools: Set up a collection bin and register with Crayola ColorCycle for free shipping

Once collected, these items are separated by material type, cleaned, and melted down to make new plastic products like outdoor furniture, watering cans, and playground equipment.

3. Small Electronics and Cords

Those drawers full of old chargers, earbuds, and outdated gadgets contain valuable recoverable materials.

E-Waste Recycling Options:

Best Buy accepts most electronics and accessories regardless of where they were purchased
Apple Stores take back Apple products and mobile phones from any manufacturer for free recycling
Staples accepts a wide range of electronics and provides data destruction services
Call2Recycle.org helps locate drop-off locations for rechargeable batteries and cell phones

Retailer Take-Back Programs:

Amazon's recycling program provides free shipping labels for small electronics
Home Depot and Lowe's accept rechargeable batteries and compact fluorescent light bulbs
Many cell phone carriers offer trade-in or recycling programs for old devices

When recycled properly, valuable materials like gold, silver, copper, and rare earth elements are recovered from these devices. One ton of cell phones contains approximately 40 times more gold than one ton of gold ore, making electronics recycling both environmentally and economically valuable.

3 Miscellaneous Household Items Worth Recycling

1. Old Clothing and Textiles

Even torn, stained, or worn-out textiles have recycling value—only 10-15% of donated clothing is actually resold in thrift stores.

Why Damaged Items Have Value:
Textiles in any condition can be recycled. Unusable clothing gets sorted and processed into industrial wiping cloths, home insulation, carpet padding, and even new fabric through innovative fiber recycling technologies.

Where to Take Textiles Beyond Donation Centers:

H&M and other clothing retailers accept any brand of clothing in any condition for recycling
American Textile Recycling Service (ATRS) provides collection bins in many communities
For-profit textile recyclers like USAgain and Planet Aid have drop boxes nationwide
Some municipal recycling programs now accept bagged textiles
Earth911.com can help locate textile recycling points near you

Remember to keep even damaged textiles dry and clean before recycling, and bag items separately from other recyclables to prevent contamination.

2. Eyeglasses and Cases

Those old prescription glasses collecting dust can help someone see clearly again.

International Programs:

Lions Clubs International collects over 30 million pairs of glasses annually through their Recycle for Sight program
New Eyes provides recycled glasses to people in developing countries
OneSight accepts prescription glasses, reading glasses, and sunglasses
VSP's Eyes of Hope program takes glasses and distributes them globally

How It Works:

Clean glasses with mild soap and water
Place in a protective case if available (cases are also accepted)
Drop off at collection points (many optometrists, community centers, and some retail locations)
Glasses are then cleaned, repaired, measured for prescription strength, and distributed to people in need

This form of recycling not only prevents waste but also provides life-changing vision correction to people who otherwise couldn't afford it. One pair of recycled glasses can enable someone to work, study, or care for their family more effectively.

3. Household Batteries

Batteries contain heavy metals and chemicals that can leach into soil and groundwater if improperly disposed of.

Proper Preparation Steps:

For alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 9V): In some states, these can go in regular trash, but recycling is always better
For rechargeable batteries: These should always be recycled
For lithium and lithium-ion batteries: Cover terminals with clear tape before recycling to prevent fire hazards
For button cell batteries: These contain mercury and should always be recycled

Safe Recycling Options:

Call2Recycle.org offers a locator tool for battery drop-off locations
Many hardware stores like Home Depot and Lowe's accept rechargeable batteries
Best Buy and other electronics retailers take rechargeable batteries
Some municipalities offer battery recycling at hazardous waste collection events

When recycled, materials like zinc, manganese, and steel are recovered from batteries and used to make new products. Proper battery recycling also prevents potentially harmful chemicals from entering the environment.

How to Find Local Recycling Options Near You

With recycling programs varying widely by location, knowing where to find information is crucial. Here are the three most reliable resources for locating specialized recycling facilities within 10 miles of your home:

Earth911.com – Simply enter the item you want to recycle and your zip code to find nearby options. Their database includes over 350 materials and 100,000+ recycling locations.
TerraCycle.com – Offers both free brand-sponsored recycling programs and Zero Waste Boxes for hard-to-recycle items. Their free programs cover everything from contact lenses to coffee capsules.
Your Local Solid Waste Authority Website – Often the most up-to-date source for your specific community's recycling guidelines. Many now offer searchable databases where you can type in an item and learn how to dispose of it properly.

For items that can't be recycled locally, consider these mail-in recycling programs:

TerraCycle's Zero Waste Boxes (for almost anything)
GreenDisk for electronics and media
The Big Green Box for batteries and electronics
ReCork for wine corks

Most of these programs provide prepaid shipping labels, making recycling as simple as dropping a package at the post office.

For tech-savvy recyclers, these top-rated apps scan product barcodes to provide instant recycling instructions:

iRecycle (powered by Earth911)
Recycle Coach
Recycle Right

These tools take the guesswork out of recycling decisions and help you avoid wishcycling mistakes.

Creating a Sustainable Recycling System at Home in Under 30 Minutes

Setting up an effective home recycling system doesn't have to be complicated or time-consuming. Here's how to create a 3-bin setup that simplifies sorting and increases your recycling success rate:

Main Recycling Bin: For common recyclables accepted in your curbside program (typically paper, cardboard, aluminum cans, and certain plastics)
Special Items Collection Box: A container for items that require special handling (batteries, electronics, etc.). Label with a list of items that belong here.
Store Drop-Off Bag: A reusable bag for collecting plastic films, bags, and other items accepted at retail drop-off locations.

The potential impact of this system is significant: By recycling the 15 items covered in this guide, your household could divert more than 200 items from landfills annually. That's approximately 100 pounds of waste per year!

Even more powerful is the community effect. When you share your recycling knowledge with just two neighbors, you create a multiplier effect. If each of those neighbors influences two more people, within just three "generations" of sharing, 14 households could be recycling more effectively. This kind of grassroots change can transform community waste habits over time.

Consider keeping a simple log of special items recycled to track your impact—many people find this motivating and it helps reinforce the new habit.

Start Your Recycling Journey Today

Begin with just one category from this list this week. Master it before adding another. Small, consistent steps create